September, 2020

Lodgement deadline for tax returns

Lodgement deadline for tax returns is looming!

In the coming weeks there will be publicity regarding your income tax return lodgement for 2019/2020 by the 31st October 2020 deadline.

However, the good news is… this doesn’t apply to those who use a registered tax agent!

If you are on a tax agent’s list prior to 31 October, generally you will have an extended deadline to lodge your 2019/2020 tax return by 15 May 2021.

Could you benefit from the extended tax return lodgement deadline?  Then don’t delay!   CONTACT US before the 31st October 2020 deadline.

We can add you to our tax list and prepare your income tax return ready for lodgement by the tax agent deadline of 15 May 2021.

Remember, you must be on our tax list before the 31st October deadline to get the tax agent extension!

 

JobKeeper Titbits

Employer August reimbursements

The monthly business declarations to claim reimbursements for payments made to employees during August are required between 1 September and 14 September 2020.

Extension

Payments under JobKeeper have been extended to 28 March 2021 for eligible businesses (including self-employed) and not-for-profits

Tiered payment rates for JobKeeper extension periods

The following fortnightly payment rates will apply for eligible employees and business participants:

Jobkeeper Date

Tier 1

Full rate

Tier 2

Lower rate

Jobkeeper extension 1 28 September 2020 – 3 January 2021 $1,200 $750
Jobkeeper extension 2 4 January 2021 – 28 March 2021 $1,000 $650

The lower rate will apply to eligible employees and business participants working less than 20 hrs/week on average from 28 September 2020 – the average hours will be based on the four weekly pay periods before either 1 March 2020 or 1 July 2020, which ever produces the higher hours

Employers will be required to nominate the payment rate for each of their eligible employees or business participant.

Changes to eligibility
  • Employees’ eligibility for the JobKeeper Payment can now be assessed from 1 July 2020, rather than 1 March 2020.
  • Employees can now be nominated by new employers if their employment has changed since the JobKeeper Payment began. However, they can still only be nominated by one employer at any given time.
  • Employers have until 31 August 2020 to meet the wage condition for new eligible employees under the 1 July eligibility test for:

Fortnight 10 – commencing on 3 August;  and

 Fortnight 11 – commencing on 17 August 2020

Businesses can claim reimbursement for their new eligible employees between 1 and 14 September 2020, when they lodge their August monthly declaration.

Your eligible business and not-for-profit clients can still enrol at any time until the program closes.

Assessment of eligibility

Employers will be required to reassess their eligibility by reference to their actual GST turnover relative to a comparable period in 2019:

Jobkeeper extension 1 Actual GST turnover has fallen in the September 2020 quarter (July, August, September) relative to a comparable period (i.e. September 2019 quarter)
Jobkeeper extension 2 Actual GST turnover has fallen in the December 2020 quarter (October, November, December) relative to a comparable period (i.e. December 2019 quarter)

The requirement to reassess a business’ eligibility to the Jobkeeper payment from 28 September 2020 implies that if the decrease in turnover is not satisfied for the Jobkeeper extension periods then the business will be ineligible to claim Jobkeeper payments from the ATO even though the business was eligible to the Jobkeeper payment previously.

If you need assistance with JobKeeper payment enrolment or reporting, CONTACT US without delay!

PHOTO CREDIT: ATO